Solar Activity To Become Stronger As Sun Approaches Maximum Cycle; Northern Lights Will Be More Frequent in 2024

Many want to witness the spectacular Northern Lights, with some traveling to countries where they could see it. Next year, aurora borealis will be more frequent, so there are more chances of encountering the sought-after natural light display.

Sun Getting Close To Solar Maximum

The Sun is in its 25th solar cycle, an 11-year activity cycle in its magnetic field. In December 2019, the current solar cycle got underwayLiketo solar cycle 24; scientists had projected at the beginning of cycle 25 that solar activity would be relatively moderate. However, a revised prediction indicates that the current cycle's solar maximum, or peak activity, will occur earlier-between January and October 2024-and will be significantly stronger than previously anticipated.

According to Lt. Bryan Brasher, the Space Weather Prediction Cent project manager, it isn't easy to reliably forecast space weather events more than a few days in advance. Even though they can say that solar activity is increasing and that, based on previous solar cycles, we should expect to see more examples of space weather, like the aurora. Although we anticipate that Solar Cycle 25 will remain below normal, strong activity is always possible.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there will be increased solar activity next year, resulting in more frequent displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis.

Northern lights or aurora borealis occur after strong geomagnetic storms. The disturbance can pull the Earth's magnetic field away from the planet. When it snaps back, it causes the Alfvén waves, which electrons cling to, and when the electrons reach the atmosphere and come in contact with nitrogen and oxygen molecules, it results in a visible light display called aurora borealis or northern lights.

Strong Space Weather Expected

While strong solar activity can result in spectacular dancing lights, Brasher also reminded the public about the severe space weather storms we encountered this year. For instance, NOAA previously warned about the increasing risk of powerful X-flares. In September, the agency said there's a 1% risk of X-flares and a 40% likelihood of M-flares as the Sun approaches the solar maximum.

Solar flares are categorized as A, B, C, M, or X, with X flares being the most powerful. X-flares are also categorized with X10 10 times more potent than X1.

In August, a strong and powerful solar flare was reported. The X1.5-rated flare reportedly disrupted radio and navigation systems across North America. The space weather forecasters had to issue warnings because energetic particles hit Earth.

Solar physicist Keith Strong, formerly Twitter, said on X that the flare caused an R3 radio blackout. It also affected the navigation signals.

The Sun's largest and busiest sunspot reportedly produced the flare, which was observed on the solar disk. It was visible two days after a weaker X-flare was followed.

Check out more news and information on Solar Flares in Science Times.